navy

March 19 2011

Pictures from the USS Abraham Lincoln

Gee Why Life, Passion dod, hawaii, navy, socialmedia

Last weekend, right after Hawaii’s tsunami scare, I had the luck of touring the Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln was on its way back to San Diego then Washington for servicing. While docked in Hawaii, the Lincoln hosted many tours, and I latched onto one for Kamehameha students. I had always wanted to see the vastness of a carrier and its flight deck after watching Top Gun.

What can I say but the carrier is big!

But really, not that big for all that’s packed inside and on the deck. It’s amazing how much stuff is squeezed into every available space to include aircraft and helicopters.

All over the ship, there are images of its namesake, Abe Lincoln. Even the coffee stand is called Jittery Abes.

Our Naval tour guides were great, taking the diverse visitors to various parts of the ship.

They talked about life on-board a ship, the basics of a ship’s operations, the training they do, and the various specialties of the crew. We even got to talk to pilots about the different aircraft and being catapulted for takeoff.

All in all, this was another great tour by the Navy to educate civilians about the Navy, its mission, and the dedication of its sailors. Thanks to Kamehameha Schools, Navy Region Hawaii, Pacific Fleet, and Pacific Command for this opportunity.

Here are a lot more pictures from the tour.

On a side note, since the ship was on stand down, most of the crew were on liberty status, and I must say that Abe Lincoln must be a fan of Air Jordans. This long-time kicks collector couldn’t believe how many Air Jordans and Jordan Brand sneakers I saw around. And not just Jordans you find in shoe stores, but uncommon colorways as well like these orange AJ 13.

September 24 2010

What to Expect from the Kaneohe Bay Air Show 2010

Gee Why Life, Passion dod, navy, socialmedia

Here’s what you can expect from the Kaneohe Bay Air Show 2010… in pictures.

Lots and lots of seating but expected to be filled.

Emergency services and plentiful police (watching Fat Albert).

Aircraft, lots and lots of aircraft, both civilian and military.

Music from the Pacific Fleet Band.

Vendors.

The Mobile Gamer Guys.

It’ll be hot so visit the Farmers Hawaii booth for some breezy relief.

Amazed spectators.

Skydivers.

Fun for the kids.

Crazy stunt pilots.

Scenic views.

Of course, the high flying (and sometimes, very low flying) Blue Angels.

And there’s much, much more! Thanks to Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet, and the KBay Air Show!

See more pictures on Flickr.

Kaneohe on Dwellable

June 30 2010

“Agility, Synergy, and Support”

Gee Why Life dod, navy, pacom, rimpac, socialmedia

I don’t pretend to be a Naval strategist or any kind of expert, but when asked to attend the naval Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise press conference and tour of Japan’s JS ATAGO destroyer, how could I say no?

Synergy

RIMPAC Leaders

The day began with remarks given by Admiral Patrick Walsh, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Vice Admiral Richard Hunt, Commander, Combined Task Force. Flanked by nation’s RIMPAC leaders, the pair outlined the goals of RIMPAC, its global significance, the positive impact on Hawaii, and the overall synergy of this international event.

Agility

JS ATAGO

Following the RIMPAC press conference was a tour of the JS ATAGO, a destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Courteous and hospitable, the JMSDF Officers overviewed the ATAGO and its agile versatility to handle a variety of maritime situations and defend other JMSDF ships.Â As a personal observation, this ship was clean, meticulously clean.Â Each brass fitting on doors were polished and even the propeller on stowed vessels was gleaming.

Support

Discussion between U.S. and Japan Naval Officers

In all though, the ultimate outcome of RIMPAC is the teaming and support of all the participants.Â Nations share a common bond and learn about other cultures which hopefully promotes global stability.

Agility, synergy, and support – that is RIMPAC 2010.

More pictures.

RIMPAC 2010:

May 11 2010

The Embrace of Mercy

Gee Why Life dod, hawaii, navy, pacom, socialmedia

On the eve of Mother’s Day, the USNS Mercy docked in Hawaii to take on supplies and personnel before launching on its Pacific Partnership 2010 mission. Thanks to the graces of Pacific Command, the Pacific Fleet, and Naval Region Hawaii, a group of local bloggers, tweeters, and social media mavens was allowed to tour the Mercy, speak to its leadership and crew, and document every aspect of this unique visit.

This is my experience.

About the USNS Mercy

Globally, the US Navy has two hospital ships in its fleet. While the Atlantic is under the care of the USNS Comfort, the USNS Mercy embraces the Pacific region. In stark contrast to its grey-hulled Navy brethren, the USNS Mercy is visually distinct, coated white and prominently displaying the Red Cross to signify its medical mission.

Also, the heritage of the Mercy is one of a converted oil supertanker, not built in the Naval shipyards. Within the Naval fleet, only an aircraft carrier is physically bigger than the Mercy.

The Floating Hospital

The obvious way to describe the USNS Mercy is it’s like a hospital, a floating hospital. Walking the expanses of the ship was just like walking the halls of any major hospital – an emergency receiving area, radiology with a CT scanner, sterile operating rooms, intensive care units, physical therapy, a blood bank, an eye clinic, a pharmacy, and patient wards (with a capacity of 1000 beds) were all there.

However, getting on a floating hospital does require a special ambulance though.

Staggering Logistics

Once you understand that the Mercy is a moving hospital, guessing at the staggering logistics and special requirements follows. Traveling to Pacific countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste during Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10), language issues are resolved by translators who are part of the crew or volunteers from Non-Governmental Agencies in host countries. Medical expertise comes from a variety of sources and is tailored for the mission at hand. Crew members are not assigned to the Mercy on a rotational basis, but from the 18 months of planning for PP10, medical skills are identified then assembled. Even veterinarians and biomedical equipment repair personnel will be participating. Supplies are continually taken on at every port stop and stored in any available free space.

The Teamwork of Roles

The successful operation of the Mercy lies in the teamwork of the crew as they each perform their vital roles. There are three primary roles on-board represented by the three leaders of the Mercy. From my understanding, Captain Lisa Franchetti heads the overall Pacific Partnership 2010 mission for the Mercy, Captain Jeffrey Paulson is chief medical officer, and Captain David Bradshaw is in charge of the operation of the Mercy.

The crew is composed of military personnel (about 1200) and civilians (about 66), and each member also has additional roles such as firefighters and to even defend the non-combatant ship if attacked.

Comforts

While the USNS Mercy is prepared to handle medical emergencies, familiar comforts are available. The primary dining hall provides meals around the clock, and yes, they serve Starbucks coffee.